As it happened: Late attack brought back for another sprint finish at stage two of Paris-Nice

And the XDS-Astana rider takes the win!

2026-03-09T16:19:14.497Z

Astana lead the sprint out for Kanter.

2026-03-09T16:18:49.781Z

That’s it, the catch is made, shortly after the flamme rouge.

Just 4 seconds for Hoole as he rides under the flamme rouge. It looks like he’s going to be caught.

2026-03-09T16:18:00.666Z

EF are back at the front of the peloton.

2026-03-09T16:17:47.247Z

Hoole is visibly struggling, but still has more than 5 seconds as he nears the final kilometre.

2026-03-09T16:17:10.953Z

Hoole has taken advantage of a more technical section of twists and turns, and still has 8 seconds with 2km left to go.

2026-03-09T16:16:46.872Z

Red Bull have taken over at the front of the peloton, but they’re more interested in defending GC than bringing Hoole back for the stage.

2026-03-09T16:15:54.497Z

10 seconds with 3km left. This is going to come down to the wire.

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The peloton can see Hoole up the road on a long, straight section, but he remains tantalising out of reach, still 16 seconds ahead with 4km left to ride.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Hoole is really digging deep, and it’s not over for him yet. In fact his lead has grown out a bit again, to 20 seconds.

2026-03-09T16:11:50.639Z

Hoole is struggling now. 7km from the finish, his lead has been cut to 13 seconds.

2026-03-09T16:11:23.389Z

Here comes EF Education-EasyPost at the front of the peloton, for the first time in a while.

2026-03-09T16:10:54.443Z

The three Alpecin riders who were involved in the crash have just made their way back into the peloton incidentally.

2026-03-09T16:10:19.540Z

Hoole’s looking over his shoulder and can see the peloton bearing down on him. With 8km left, they’re 20 seconds behind.

2026-03-09T16:09:09.286Z

For the first time in a while, the peloton is starting to make inroads. The gap’s fallen a bit, to 22 seconds with 9km left.

2026-03-09T16:08:38.025Z

Here’s Hoole, who is fully committed to this attack.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Just 10km left, and Hoole leads by 25 seconds. This is very much on for the Dutchman.

2026-03-09T16:05:30.478Z

Movistar now have a line of three riders leading the chase, taking over from NSN.

2026-03-09T16:05:01.724Z

Still the gap grows – it’s now up to 27 seconds!

2026-03-09T16:03:02.040Z

Meanwhile Hoole’s lead is growing again, now up to 22 seconds. With just 14km left to catch him, this could become dangerous…

2026-03-09T16:02:09.695Z

A crash in the peloton. Alpecin are the main team affected, with three riders held up.

2026-03-09T15:59:15.989Z

Still Hoole’s lead grows. It’s up to 16 seconds now, with 17km left to ride.

2026-03-09T15:58:34.934Z

Now Movistar are assisting NSN with the pace-setting. Their man Orluis Aular was third-place yesterday.

2026-03-09T15:57:44.211Z

NSN have taken up the chase in the peloton. Hoole’s lead is still growing for now, up to 11 seconds.

Hoole is 8 seconds up. As a powerful time trial specialist, it will require effort to bring him back.

2026-03-09T15:54:57.151Z

That’s woken the peloton up. They’re now having to chase again.

2026-03-09T15:54:23.391Z

We have an attack! Daan Hoole was gone off the front.

2026-03-09T15:53:58.854Z

Mechanical for Rune Herregodts. The pace is so slow that he’ll be able to rejoin without much effort.

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-09T15:47:17.388Z

Sandy Dujardin has had a brief looking-to at the doctors car, and looks good to continue. It seems all of those involved in the crash are now back in the peloton.

2026-03-09T15:45:06.925Z

The peloton, all bunched together.

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Still no team wants to take control of the peloton. We await the lead-outs beginning in earnest.

2026-03-09T15:41:02.670Z

Bahaus is making his way through the convoy, and is looking OK again.

2026-03-09T15:40:39.573Z

The pace is still slow in the peloton, so the fallers who aren’t too hurt should be able to return to it.

2026-03-09T15:39:58.271Z

Marijn van den Berg was also involved, and is making his way back to the peloton. EF Education-EasyPost will hope he’s not too hurt, as his lead-out yesterday was crucial to guiding Lampreti to victory.

2026-03-09T15:37:49.245Z

They’re back up, but Bauhaus looks hurt. He’s changed bikes and has set off again, but gingerly.

There’s been an incident in the peloton, with several fallers. Sprinters Phil Bauhaus and Cees Bol are among the victims.

2026-03-09T15:35:56.411Z

Decathlon briefly upped the pace going into a sharp corner, but relented once they got round, and the pace has been knocked off once more.

2026-03-09T15:35:05.462Z

Another man with a great shout today is Phil Bauhaus. Whereas yesterday he was dumped out of contention on the climbs, this time he’s safely in the peloton, and should be fresher having not gone for the intermediate sprint. At his best, he’s one of the quickest finishers in this field.

2026-03-09T15:31:42.449Z

One team to look out for today is Cofidis, whether they sprint with Coquard or Fretin. The latter would seem to be the most likely candidate, having finished fourth yesterday, and could have the advantage of benefiting from an elite leadout from Coquard.

Teams like NSN and Jayco are up towards the front of the peloton, but nobody is prepared to up the pace this far out from the finish. This could be a slow, tense game of brinkmanship between the sprinter teams.

2026-03-09T15:22:08.209Z

Hold on a minute – actually it’s been announced that Ayuso pipped Lamperti at the line to take second place, meaning he takes four seconds, while Lampoerti only takes two.

That means that, as things stand, Lamperti and Braet are level at the top of the GC. And all Braet needs to do now to take yellow is finish ahead of the American (providing the both finish in the peloton).

2026-03-09T15:20:23.757Z

Now that the sprint is done, the pace has again been knocked off, and the peloton is ambling their way along the road.

2026-03-09T15:19:48.156Z

Ayuso did indeed take third place in the sprint, meaning he gains another two seconds in his GC bid.

2026-03-09T15:17:54.243Z

That means Braet has cut his deficit to Lamperti to just two seconds. If he can take more bonuses at the finish, and finish ahead of Lamperti, then the yellow jersey will be his! This could turn out to be some manoeuvre by Lotto.

2026-03-09T15:16:50.010Z

Braet takes it, just ahead of Lamperti. And it looks like Ayuso might have taken third.

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Juan Ayuso is also getting involved.

2026-03-09T15:16:13.982Z

Braet’s being led out, Lamperti still on his wheel.

2026-03-09T15:15:54.679Z

Lotto have again taken control at the front, and Lamperti is alert to it. He’s sticking to Braet’s wheel.

2026-03-09T15:15:33.197Z

The pace has increased again as the near the sprint.

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The pace is completely off in the peloton. No team wants to be responsible for taking control of it before we get closer to the intermediate sprint.

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-09T15:06:02.591Z

Things are very relaxed for now. Riders at the back are enjoying casual conversations with each other.

2026-03-09T15:05:26.261Z

The sprint is still 8km away. Surely Braet is going to go for it, but will Lamperti go hard also in defence of his yellow jersey, or reserve his energy for the final sprint at the finish?

2026-03-09T15:03:48.522Z

Since the catch was made, the pace is back down in the peloton. Lotto don’t want to burn all their matches before the actual lead-out for the intermediate sprint, and so no team is pushing on for now.

2026-03-09T15:03:00.501Z

Pedersen’s day out in front might be over, but he has at least secured the polka-dot jersey for another stage.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-09T14:57:05.793Z

That’s it, the break has been caught.

2026-03-09T14:56:50.344Z

There are 6, 4 and points available for the first three riders over the line at the intermediate sprint – that surely is why Lotto have been working.

And now just 6 seconds for the 2 leaders, who appear to have given up the ghost.

2026-03-09T14:54:24.444Z

Just 10 seconds now. They’re going to catch them.

2026-03-09T14:52:22.319Z

Lotto’s work has brought the two leaders back to within just 20 seconds. If they catch them, then the maximum bonus second will be available to them at the intermediate sprint.

2026-03-09T14:51:41.262Z

It could be that Lotto have their eye on an intermediate sprint coming up in about 10km With Braet currently lying in second overall just 4 seconds behind Lamperti, and more bonus seconds unavailable on the line at the finish, the Belgian has a chance to get himself into the yellow jersey today.

2026-03-09T14:50:05.968Z

Lotto Intermarché haven’t just lent a man to take part in the pace-setting, but have a whole long line of riders leading at the front. It’s a committed move – but what for?

2026-03-09T14:48:29.908Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Lotto’s work is eating into the break’s lead. It’s now down to about 40 seconds.

2026-03-09T14:43:28.748Z

Here are the final KOM rankings of the day:

1 Pedersen 18 points

2 Le Berre 14 points

3 Walker 3 points

2026-03-09T14:42:29.672Z

Pedersen was back with his team car, seemingly discussing what the plan was now now that all of the available KOM points have been swept up. By the looks of things, he’s going to keep working with Le Berre, rather than sitting up.

2026-03-09T14:40:19.285Z

There’s a change in the peloton, as Lotto lead up the climb. They must fancy the chances of Braet at the finale today.

Pedersen outsprints Le Berre easily for the points as they go over the top.

2026-03-09T14:38:30.904Z

Le Berre is leading with Pedersen on his wheel as they approach the top.

2026-03-09T14:38:08.788Z

Having spent so long riding for this, the pair are relishing this battle. Both are looking at each other and engaging in gamesmanship.

2026-03-09T14:37:19.233Z

The leaders are climbing for the final time today, up the Côte du Pressoir. Can this be the one that Le Berre at last gets the better of Pedersen?

2026-03-09T14:36:01.489Z

After fishing runner-up yesterday, Vito Braet must be considered a favorite for the win. The Belgian is without a win of any kind during his professional career, but he’s long overdue, and that result suggests he’s capable of doing so today.

The gap is no longer falling, but holding steady again, at about 1:35.

2026-03-09T14:26:20.786Z

Notable by their absence at the front, having done so much work yesterday, are Picnic-PostNL. Their sprinter Casper van Uden was dropped out of contention on the final climb, and therefore unable to sprint despite having his teammates ride at the front of the peloton for much of the day. He cited illness as a reason for not being in top shape, but if he can recover more today he’ll be a contender.

2026-03-09T14:23:08.201Z

It’s still only NSN and EF Education-EasyPost who are doing any pace-setting at the front of the peloton. Given how open yeterday’s finish was, however, we can imagine there will be a lot of riders with a chance of winning.

2026-03-09T14:21:01.238Z

Pedersen and Le Berre, soldiering on with their (surely doomed) breakaway.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-09T14:19:56.736Z

Mechanical for Nils Politt, who looks calm and has swapped bikes. No need to panic at this early, relaxed phase of the stage.

For the first time in a while, the peloton have brought back some time on the leaders. The gap’s down to 1:35.

2026-03-09T14:16:02.952Z

Jonas Vingegaard is positioned safely in the bunch, and despite not losing any time yesterday was not a happy man at the finish. He criticised the route, which he felt caused undue stress due to too many complications.

There’s another 25km until the third and final climb of the day, the category three Côte du Pressoir. Maintaining a lead of just under two minutes, the two leaders can be confident of still leading the race by the time they get there – even if the stage win feels very unlikely.

2026-03-09T14:00:22.882Z

The updated KOM rankings. Pedersen will again wear the polka-dot jersey tomorrow, so long as he successfully finishes today’s stage.

1 Pedersen 15 points

2 Le Berre 12 points

3 Walker 3 points

2026-03-09T13:59:00.674Z

Two minutes later, Guillaume Boivin of NSN lead the peloton over the summit.

Once again it’s Pedersen who takes the honours at the top of the climb ahead of Le Berre.

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The two leaders are on the climb.

2026-03-09T13:49:57.032Z

This one is the Côte de Villeconin, and it’s another modest affair, lasting just 1km at an average of 6.1%.

With the gap still at two minutes, we’re about to have some action between the two brekaway riders as they approach the foot of the second climb of the day.

2026-03-09T13:41:07.236Z

Still it’s NSN who lead the peloton. This is a big statement of intent regarding how confident they are in Biniam Girmay’s ability to land them a stage win today.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The gap’s come down a little, to two minutes. But the peloton remains relaxed for now.

2026-03-09T13:30:31.096Z

Luke Lamperti in the bunch, on a day where he’s seeking to both retain the yellow jersey, and potentially add a second stage win to his success yesterday. That result felt like a major breakthrough in the young American’s career, and proved his potential as a potentially elite sprinter.

The race remains in a holding pattern, the leading duo being left out ahead with a lead of 2:20 over the peloton.

2026-03-09T13:12:57.307Z

They might be down to just two riders, but the break’s lead has grown to its highest margin so far, 2:30. The peloton is in no rush to bring them back.

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-09T12:54:45.799Z

While things remain quiet here for now, have a read of the big news today that the Ineos Grenadiers team are set for a major budget boost having secured a new title sponsor.

Two minutes is the gap between the peloton and the leaders, whose taks has become even more difficult now they’re down to just two.

2026-03-09T12:47:02.936Z

The three riders at the front, that has now become two.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-09T12:44:28.019Z

It seems that that’s job done for Vercher. He’s sat up and waiting for the peloton to collect him.

2026-03-09T12:43:55.720Z

Here are the updated classifications:

1 Pedersen 12 points

2 Le Berre 10 points

3 Walker 3 points

Success once again for Pedersen. He picks up from where he left off yesterday, and takes the points at the top of the climb ahead of Le Berre and Vercher.

2026-03-09T12:39:46.350Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-09T12:34:48.139Z

Here are the KOM rankings as things stand. Pedersen was comfortably the strongest yesterday, but Le Berre kept himself in contention, and today has his teammate Vercher to try to help him work over the man in the polka-dot jersey.

1 Pedersen 9 points

2 Le Berre 8

3 Walker 3

4 Grignard 2

5 Gamper 2

2026-03-09T12:32:59.607Z

Said climb is the Côte des Mesnuls, a 1.2km effort averaging 5.5%. Its greatest significance will be staging a resumption of the rivalry between Pedersen and Le Berre in the break, as they fight it out for KOM points.

The gap between the three leaders and the peloton continues to hover around two minutes, as they approach the first of the day’s three climbs.

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And here are the three remaining riders, Pedersen, Le Berre and Vercher.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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Here were the four riders together before Sütterlin dropped back.

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2026-03-09T12:23:49.892Z

At some point, Sütterlin must have thought better of taking part in the day’s break and determined it wasn’t worth the effort.

2026-03-09T12:22:40.797Z

Despite having attacked earlier, Jasha Sütterlin is not actually in the break. He’s back in the peloton, leaving just the three riders up the road.

The gap’s been allowed to grow to 1:50, and the peloton is keeping it pegged there for now.

2026-03-09T12:16:04.679Z

Pleasant skies and nice conditions greet the riders today, further swinging the advantage towards the sprinters.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-09T12:09:22.012Z

That said, yesterday the break came far closer than expected to surviving to the finish, so we can’t rule them out. And that’s a pretty strong quartet, with two of the men who did so well to hold off the peloton for so long yesterday.

2026-03-09T12:08:05.904Z

That was an especially complicated process. The unlikelyhood of the break succeeding on such a flat stage is reflected in how little interest there was among the riders in the peloton to get into the break.

2026-03-09T12:06:14.426Z

Sütterlin does indeed sit up and wait for Pedersen, Le Berre and Vercher to join him, and the four are 1:45 ahead of the peloton. We have our break of the day.

2026-03-09T12:05:06.125Z

The three chasers still have a few seconds to make up on Sütterlin, but it looks like these four riders will form the break of the day.

2026-03-09T12:03:59.338Z

The peloton seems to have sat up – they’re already over a minute behind.

2026-03-09T12:02:19.477Z

Two of the riders who were in the break yesterday, Casper Pedersen (Soudal Quick-Step) and Mathis Le Berre TotalEnergies), are chasing, along with Le Berre’s teammate Matteo Vercher.

2026-03-09T12:00:37.123Z

Jasha Sütterlin is the Jayco rider at the front, and he leads the race by a few seconds ahead of three chasers.

2026-03-09T11:59:41.142Z

The riders at the unofficial start.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-09T11:56:47.471Z

A Jayco rider is the first to make a move, and another rider is trying to join him.

And they’re off!

2026-03-09T11:54:27.590Z

Paris-Nice isn’t the only World Tour racing taking place today – over in Italy Tirreno-Adriatico has gotton under way. We’ve got live coverage of that race, too.